Ginni Thomas seeks Hill apology, in vain

By Ben Smith

10/19/10 08:10 PM EDT

In a remarkable exchange, Ginni Thomas, wife of Clarence, left Anita Hill a voicemail asking for an apology for Hill's testimony -- which she's never recanted -- that the future Supreme Court justice acted inappropriately as her boss.

“Good morning, Anita Hill, it's Ginni Thomas,” said the voicemail, according to ABC News, “I just wanted to reach across the airwaves and the years and ask you to consider something. I would love you to consider an apology sometime and some full explanation of why you did what you did with my husband. So give it some thought and certainly pray about this and come to understand why you did what you did. Okay have a good day.”

Hill told ABC:

Even if it wasn’t a prank, it was in no way conciliatory for her to begin with the presumption that I did something wrong in 1991. I simply testified to the truth of my experience. For her to say otherwise is not extending an olive branch, it’s accusatory.

I don’t apologize. I have no intention of apologizing and I stand by my testimony in 1991.”

The Thomas confirmation hearings divided the country, an early episode that widened the partisan cultural rift at play today. Two decades on, this one hasn't healed.